New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-26
THE UR.4M1,


numerous CONF any OF lutcfthteu anu icoPoISi'e
spectators by the best piece OF acting that she has
ever given within the observation OF this public Her
personal aspect and individuality as Lady Clan
earty" the figure, the face, the adornment the car
riage To demeanor. the use OF voice. tho per'asiVe
and controlling condition were as completely sats-
iynC TO the sense of beauty as any stage image
possibly could be Mile her dramatic denotement OF
the feeling of this character frankly and sweey
mpetuous and restrained and guided by ca celent
discretion and pure tasteso that she produced The
total result OF good acting, which is to create "a
absolute realty Of illusion and convey an irresistible
sense of sincerity and power in manner that Is ap
parcntly spontaneous.
No character has been added to stage literature, in
our time that contains more OF the woman nature
than is found in Lady Clancarty." She is lovely
woman who fondly loves, and who saves Der lovers
lite by her passionate devotion to him setting at
work machinery o. safeguard which else hau
slumbered. She is not a complex character anu
there is subtlety Ill her comDosiiion or her con-
duct At only moment in the authors deineation
OF her is she indicated under the strain OF con-
hict OF Ierplexed and opposed emotions-the moment
when she finds herself attracted by the ardent
stranger who woos her for her husband, whom she
has not since they wedded as boy and girl,
and who is he'll hu sband-although she does not know
it, This troubled moot, however, is not in the least
difficult TO understand. Indeed the characteristic OF
the part elemental feeling and, probably, this is
one strong for Mrs. Langtrys marked success
in IT, Not a situation has been devised tor Lady
Clancarty in which she is required to do anything
but let herself be exactly rs she IL ana as she
tccls. Delight in natural and pure love-beset,
indeed, with penls but sanctioned by duty not Iess
than passiouis the dominant force OF her beng ana
the main impulse of her every word ana deed
Woinanhood typiied by her, neither assumes
heroic proportions asplres to them Her supreme
achievement is to show the eAultant happiness, the
honest transport, that sweet and ardent woman
mag feel hen the man whom she loves ID at length
giver into her arms and to express her passionate
sense of wifes right and duty when her husband is
in deadly peril from bs enemies. She is born and
bred a lady, in the old Stuart DAYS 1.-THE period OF the
piece being "a certain year OF King Wilhelm ielSn
le98 when there was plot foot to eYtirpate the
Orange and restore King James) and the representa-
tive OF her must have both manner which comes OF
innate refinement and manners which come OF cuit-
walton. Mrs Langtry possesses these qualllcatlons
in no common degree. Stul more, III the magnihcent
situation OF the third act-where the drama culm';
nates--she showed herself capable OF actlng ana
speaking straight from the heart, and OF making the
simple accents OF nature pussant and predominant
A certain lack of selt-control in moments OF great
erctemrnt-a lack which shows self in wild disorder
of movement aud in traglnentary and somewhat
di.cordant tones of yoices the structural defect OF
visible and IL NAV be expected to disappear. Mrs.
Lnngtry sociterously called before the curtain
after the third act aud she was compilhehted Win
many gifte OF gorgeous flowers.
MI Charles Coghlan played Lord Clancarty" IL
was iaultless Observation-Disclosures, perhaps, IT
lacked little in the ardor OF passionate tenderness
IL was pictorial 90 the eye delightful to the fancy
model OF impersonation--as opposed 70 strenuous
imitation OF liie-and a luxury to those who love
the sound OF English finely modnated and beautifully
spoken by a musical voice The difficult part OF
@Kng William " was impersonated by Mr.. Fred
Everl who presented an impressive image OF
saturnns majesty. failing not to indicate the iron
monafchs physical infrmity OF asthma, together with
that fiery flash of temper which sometimes irradiaied
his usually impassive nature. most Judeious por;
travail OF The severe and formidable Lord Spencer
was given by Mr.. Weaver, and Miss Kate Pattson
endured Lady Betty Mel =" with pretty and engag-
ing yvacty. The scenes with the two women were
sprighH, beyond the usual limit OF stage custom.
Mrs Langtry, like Mrs. Kendall, opens the third act
with fine picture OF Lady Claucarty, sitting in the
freight OF her chamber playing on lutte.
Lady Clancartyn IL an old .story now though still
pleasant one IL first produced on March .,
1874 at the Olympic Theatre. London, with Ada
characters. Its first representation in this country
occurred in Boston. but il has several times been
acted in NewYork by Miss Cavendish and Others, and
il is well known throughout the Republic. Mrs;
anprys present revival SURPRISES all previous local
productions OF IT, in accuracy and beauty of scenery
and dresses. The piece affords somewhat iemark-
able opportunity for instructive rs well as pleasing
stage pictures. The opening scene-a tavern IN
Romney Marsh, region adjacent to one OF the Five
Ports ON the English Channe-may, OF course, be
treated less according to the caprice OF roman
tic fancy but OF the subsequent scenes are laid
in historic places the old palace at kensington, the
In Esmond," and the oil palace of Whitehall Mrs:
Langtry has faithfully respected the essential need
OF historic accuracy. in the chief details OF these
pictures. The tapestries, the hangings, the pictured
panels, the painted ceilings the massive and sombre
wainscots of oak. the Dutch flower peces, and the
dusky portraits that used to embelish the Cabinet
of Portland and the Closet of the King strictly
harmonious with the taste and usage OF those times
and such adjuncts ut to the magma
ton and instruct the mind The bed.chamber OF
Lady Clancarty wherein passes the chief scene
il not unsuggestiye OF rooms IT the old kensngton
Palace that are associated with Queen Anne Mrs.
Langtryis entitled to the grateful and practical ap-
probation OF the piaygoing public, equally for sym
pathetic and noble exhibition OF her line talent and
spirit actor and tor remarkably faithful
and beautiful stage Transcript OF an old historic period